The University’s commitment to enhancing student employability has been in focus this month with a range of events taking place at Jordanstown, Coleraine and Magee. Attracting a wide range of exhibitors including professional bodies as well as placement and graduate recruiters, the annual autumn careers fairs brought much vibrancy to the campuses.

Students in law, business, teaching, IT and engineering have taken the opportunity to hear keynote addresses from business people, meet potential employers at first hand, discuss future career prospects and investigate opportunities for further study.

Organised by the Employability and Marketing team, the fairs are seen as an important mechanism for strengthening engagement with businesses, enhancing student and graduate employability and promoting Ulster’s portfolio of programmes.

Maria Curran, Head of Employability, said: “The University, in the development and delivery of its programmes, has always sought to provide ‘work-ready’ graduates with the knowledge, skills and confidence to take on challenging graduate-level jobs and/or further study.

“As the economy slowly gains momentum and begins to strengthen, we are committed to ensuring that Ulster students are best-placed to benefit from emerging career opportunities. Through these fairs, we hope to create a forum for our students to meet and network with potential employers and to think carefully about their future career options.”

Following the Jordanstown fairs, Sarah Milliken, graduate recruitment specialist with Citi, said: “We welcome the opportunity to engage with the students from the University of Ulster, at both the careers fairs and events.

“As a large graduate employer these events provide us with a great platform to learn more about the students as well as promoting Citi as a graduate employer of choice.”

Work-related and work-based learning opportunities such as short and long-term placements or graduate development programmes have given Ulster an excellent reputation for employability.

Welcoming the event at the Magee campus, Dr Lisa Bradley, Head of Department of International Business, said: “Within the Ulster Business School, we are committed to ensuring that our students have a competitive edge in the job market and have worked tirelessly to develop excellent programmes of study alongside our local, national and international industry partners.

“Events such as these play an important role in providing valuable information and contacts for our students, allowing them to showcase their skills and abilities in an increasingly competitive environment. At the same time, they give potential employers the chance to engage directly with the employees of tomorrow.”

Throughout the month of October, it is anticipated that 2,400 students, 182 exhibitors and 17 guest speakers will visit the fairs.

For more information visit the University of Ulster’s Career Development Centre website at www.ulster.ac.uk/careers